Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-12-22
Shake Rag Under Hill.
STORY or EARLY DAYS IN THE Lad MINES.
ny Z. a. 05D9E11E.


bi iUt NUS NthlN llAtch ny tne u@uio
of the "Point," or sometimes more
euphoniously called "Shake Rag
Under the Hill," from the custom
of calling to dinner the men who
worked in tho lead mines on tbs
neighboring hills by means of
colored rag elevated on long pole
| by the landlord Of the rough tavern,
noticed "a decided Improvement in
the evening dress of Mr.. Joe Ton
kyus, for eyerybody's doiugs, golngs
aud comings are scrutinized in such
small places with fidelity which
would do Justice 10 Paul Pry. lie
! did not call around 40 often To Abe's
saloon to get drink IN the pleasant
spring evenings after Tie days
work was done. lie no lons9r ssso-
oiated himself with the occasional
drunken sallies which now aud then
enliyened the primitive mining town.
after the periodical "wash up" of
the weeks labors; and he ceased al
together his usual habit Of dropping
IA few dollars at the gambling tables,
of which there were the usual need
less number, As Is generally the ease
where men make great deal of
money ia a short space Of time
that Is, not openly, Tor who eau Tell
The secret wickedneSS ofsany man.
Tonkyns was always noticed 20 at
tend the worship every sunday at
the little rock church which stood
IN the timber away up on the hiil,
and agreeabiy surprised the worthy
deacon who PASSED around the little
square contribution box with the
long handle, by dropping in an
amount out of all proportion greater
than the usual bestowais for the
benefit of the gospel on such oc-
oasious.
The minister shook hands with
him the next day while he was on
the road to the dlggIngs, aud iu-
vlted hin TO the heprayer-muetings held
on Friday evenings, which invita-
tion was, however, respectfully de-
I clined with many thanks.
Tonkyus' external sanctty had
I not penetrated, as yet 70 any great
extent, his reprobate heart,
The good housewives gossiped
aud wondered who in the world no
could be after, for they never doubt
ed for moment chat some likely
young or old maid had taken his
eye, which, Of course, must bo the
sole cause for Joe Tonkyns' unusual
proceedings.
But the preacher aud the good
housewives were, of course, all
wrong IN their conjectures as to
Mr. Tonkyns' Intentions, ~ We all
usually are when We hazard TO
guess at something of winch we
know nothing about The sole ob-
joct of the object OF their coniectures
was, a respectable, sobergolng rep
uhtion for steadluess against the
time when "she" was to come. Not
that he cared a tg for himself, but
that she should look up to hun more
than the average denlzen Of the
rude settlement.
And now the weeks dragged slow
ly on To the mid of summer. The
fresh odors Of the spring, which
seemed luseparabiy connected 70
Joe's mind with his newborn hope,
gave place on the bare hillsides aud
In the oaken forests 10 the sweet
breathings of summer. And as the
summer ripened and the flowers
grew richer in their abundance, 80
npened the impatIence u near from
the venture be had sent across ths
seas. So, making allowance for the
shortest possible time III which an
answer could DC expected 70 his let
ter Of May, he wonderfully surprised
the postmaster and the usual nail
time hangers on by ms being
promptly on hand every evening,
just after the north bound stage
! from Gllena came rattlug aud
banging down the STONY and steep
decent, that led to the hollow where
lay the collection Of houses termed
the Point" from the nigh ridge
far up Ia the timber. SO "Anythlug
for Joe Tonkyns?" became well
| known sound In the small pre-
cincts Of the said office.
He had never inquired for mail
before; and after it had been kept
up for week or more, the gossip
ing tongues Of the aforesaid good
housewives wagged more than ever,
and coupling this behavior with his
unprecedented church.golng, they
| fabricated more unlikely probabili-
ties than ever.
But, how eagerly in that little Of
fee, lighted by half a dozen dips,
did Joe glance at every letter, which
the quick eye Of the postmaster
scanned for a moment and then con-
signed TO its proper receptacle. Every
small, femiaine looking letter at